What happened
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at imposing sanctions on Russia and Iran, which will now be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature. The bill, named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, targets Russia's energy sector by punishing the largest buyers of its oil and gas. This move aims to reduce the revenue streams that fund Russia's ongoing war on Ukraine.
The legislation allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from countries that purchase significant volumes of Russian energy, which may include China and India. The bill also targets Russian government officials, oligarchs, and financial institutions. Additionally, it extends sanction authority aimed at slashing funding for Iran's weapons and energy sectors.
The bill passed the House with a vote of 262-159 and had previously passed the Senate with a vote of 86-11. The passage of the bill has been welcomed by advocacy groups, with Daniel Balson of Razom for Ukraine describing it as 'momentous' and a message to Putin that Congress will continue to impose consequences for his actions in Ukraine.
